Rail-anchor.



A.L. STANFORD.

RAIL ANCHOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE II. 1916.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

Bade/77ft) 7:

lit:

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ARTHUR L. STANFQRD, OF. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

. RAIL-ANCHOLR.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented lin 29, 1916..

Application filed June 1'7, 1916. Serial No. 104,229.

' Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Anchors, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention-is to simplify the construction of a rail anchor so as to reduce the cost of production as much as possible without sacrificeof the elements of strength, durability and eiiiciency in the performance of its intended work.

With these ends in view, the anchor is designed as a two-piece structure so formed and proportioned that both parts can be cast in the foundry and completed without machining, which is an item of expense which it is desirable to avoid, if possible.

Another object of the invention is to so proportion the parts that the bulk of the metal will be disposed at the points subjected to strain, the remaining portions of the device being lightly designed to reduce the expense without sacrifice of strength or durability. V

The invention also relatesto the construction of the nut which is employed to hold the jaws in operative position and to the provision of nut locking elements which likewise subserve ajaw functionin clamping the anchor to the rail flange and to the device as a whole and the features thereof, hereinafter to be described. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view showing a rail base in cross-section with the anchor of the present invention applied thereto;-Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same showing the foot of the anchor in con tact with a tie; Fig. 3 is a. top or plan view of the device; and Fig. 4 is a view of the rear face of the nut element. m

The anchor, as before stated, consists of two parts, a rail-gripping element 5 and a locking or nut element 6; The rail-gripping element comprises a jaw 7 consisting of an overhanging portion 8 and a base portion 9 in'spaced relation to one another. The under or acting face of the overhanging jaw portion is sloped or beveled to con form to the upper surface of a rail flange, and the receiving space within the jaw is preferably of slightly greater depth than necessary to bring the parts into gripping contact with the rail in order to afford a slight clearance space 9 at the base of the jaw to allow for inequalities in the surface contour of the rail flanges, and to eliminate the formation of cleavage cracks.

The j aw as a whole is formed to afford a body portion 10 which merges at its inner and outer ends into transversely projected innerand outer reinforcing flanges 11 and 12 respectively, which flanges serve to greatly thicken the jaw at its inner and outer ends in order to aflord the necessary resistance to strain or breakage occasioned by the tendency of the jaw to tilt when subserving its anchoring function.

The inner reinforcing flange 11, at its lower end, merges into a forwardly project ed foot 13 adapted to contact with the surface of a tie 14. and preferably slightly rounded on its acting face to compensate for inequalitiesin the surface of a hewn tie, abutting against that face of the tie which may be considered as the rear face with respect to the direction of traffic on the rails, which is indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the formation is one which affords a clearance between the tie and the forward reinforcing flange, so that the device as a whole will subserve the functions of a lever having an arm equal to the distance'betwcen the point of tie contact with the foot and the forward jaw contact with the rail. When, therefore, tlie rail tends tocreep, there will be a tendency to tip or rock the jaw upon the foot as an axis, which will cause a very severe binding or gripping of the jaw against the surface of the rail flange, and a like result will follow if the rail tends to draw away in the opposite directidn, due to contraction in cold weather, in'which casethe foot embedded in frozen ballast will tend to rock the jaw in a reverse direction.

The foot is reinforced by means of a rear web 1% which bridges the space between the front reinforcing flange with its projected foot and the rear flange, and this connecting web is positioned to he immediately behind the center of the foot which moreover is in' ing cross arm 15 which is spread or enlarged of the lower jaw member in order to aiford a clearance space 17 between the arm and the under surface of the gripped rail flange. The arm, throughout the major portion of its length, is comparatively thin in its horizontal, as compared with its vertical dimension, and is provided at or near its center with a bend or curve 18 which is designed to afford a limited amount of flexibility, so that when the parts are driven to place on the" rail flange, they will preferablybe held under a slight amount of spring tension, thereby compensating for vibration due to traflic on the rails.

-The outer end of the connecting arm, beyond the bent portion,.is provided on its upper and lower edges with screw threads 19,

which are designed to receive a nut 20 having a flange or collar 21 preferably provided with cuts or notches22 at, recurrent intervals aroundits edge, or otherwise irregularly formed. The flanged nut is adapted to thread onto the upper and lower threads 19 and be turned to position in contact with the edges of the rail flanges. Thereafter the nut will be held in locked position against the rail flange by striking down the upstanding portion of the collar so as to overlie the rail flange and subserve the purpose and function of a combined overhanging jaw and nutlock. The notches also facilitate the turning of the nut by means of a hammer and chisel, spike, or the like, which may be applied to the notched surface and driven around.

In use the gripping elements of the device will be driven in place to engage the intended rail flange, after which the nut will be turned to position and struck down by the employment of a hammer, or other convenient 1mplement. The connecting arm at its end is threaded sufficiently to allow for considerable variation in the width of the rail base, and the provision of the curve in the connecting arm enables the nut to be locked in suitable position to hold the device 'onto a rail so tightly as to withstand the very heavy vibration to which the parts are subjected.

The clearanbe space 9 at the base of the jaw is preferably slightly enlarged to prevent shrinkage cracks in the casting operation, and also to make possible a driving fit of the jaws onto the rail flanges. The extreme simplicity of the device enables the parts to be cast and used without any milling or machine work, which is an element of much importance in the art to which the present'invention relates. The device as a whole is extremely simple and readily adaptable to use with-rails of various sizes, and all portions of the device are made sufliciently "strong to withstand the strains encountered.

The connecting arm and lock nut are subjected to very. little strain in use, and these and in preventing its displacement, since the gripping or binding action of the jaws under strain is in a plane parallel to the rail,

and the connecting arm and nut are not subjected tothis load in any appreciable degree. The parts, furthermore, are proportioned so that the notched collar on the nut will clear theedge of the tie, thereby facilitatim the turning up of the nut to position.

I c aim:

1. A rail anchor consisting of a jaw member adapted to grip a rail flange, a transverse connecting member adapted to underlie the rail base, and a locking member mounted on the end of the connecting member andadapted to be positioned thereon to contact the opposite rail flange and provided with an upstanding portion adapted to be struck down onto the rail flange, substanadapted to abut against the rear vertical face of a'tie, a transverse connecting member adapted to underlie the rail base, and a locking member mounted on the end. of the connecting member and adapted to be positioned thereon to contact the opposite rail flange and provided with an upstanding portion adapted to be struck down onto the rail flange, substantially as described.

4:. In a rail anchor, the combination of a gripping member adapted to engage a rail flange and provided with a depending foot adapted to abut against the rear vertical face of a tie, a transverse connecting member adapted to underlie the rail base, and a lockingmember threaded on the end of the connecting member and adapted to be turned thereon to position to contact the opposite rail flange and provided with an upstanding portion adapted to be struck down onto the rail flange, substantially as described.

5. In a rail anchor, the combination of a gripping member provided with a jaw adapted to engage a rail flange, the jaw being provided with inner and outer flanges and a connecting body portion, the inner flange being projected downwardly and inwardly to afford a foot having a bearing surface, and a rear reinforcing web interposed. between the rear flange and the" front flange with its depending foot, a transverse connecting -arm adapted to extend below the rail base, and a locking member adjustable upon the arm and adapted to engage the opposite rail flange, substantially as described.

' 6. In arail anchor, the combination of a gripping member provided with a jaw adapted to engage a rail flange, the jaw being provided with inner and outer flanges and a connectin body portion, the inner flange being projected downwardly and inwardly to afford a foot having a bearing surface, and a rear reinforcing web inter posed between the rear flange and the front flange'with its depending foot, a transverse connecting arm adapted to extend below the rail base, and a locking member adjustable upon the connecting arm and provided with an upstanding portion adapted to'be struck down to overlie and engage the opposite rail flange, substantially as described.

7 In a rail anchor, the combination of a gripping member provided with a jaw adapted to engage a rail flange, the jaw being provided with inner and outer flanges and a connecting body portion, the inner flange being projected downwardly and in wardly to afford a foot having a bearing surface, and a rear reinforcing web interposed between the rear flange and the front flange with its depending foot, a transverse connecting arm adapted to extend below the rail base, and a locking nut threaded on the end of the connecting arm and provided with an upstanding portion adapted to be struck down to overlie and engage the opposite rail flange, substantially as described.

8. In a rail anchor, the combination of a gripping member provided with a adapted 'to engage a rail flange, the jaw be ing provided with inner and outer flanges and a connecting body portion, the inner flange being projected downwardly and inwardly to afford a foot having a curved bearing surface, and a rear reinforcing web interposed between the rear flange and the front ,f/flange with its depending foot, a

tra sverse connecting arm adapted to exte d below the rail base, and a locking member adjustable upon the arm and adapted to engage the opposite rail flange, the connecting arm being provided with a bend or curve therein to afford flexibility, substantially as described.

9. In a rail anchor, the combination of a gripping member provided with a jaw adapted to engage .a rail flange, the jaw being provided with inner and outer flanges and a connecting body portion, the inner flange being projected downwardly and inwardly to afford a foot having a bearing surface, and a rear reinforcing web interposed between the rear flange and the front flange with its depending-foot, a transverse connecting armadapted to extend below the rail base, and a locking member adj ustable upon the connecting arm and provided with an upstanding portion adapted to be struck down to overlie and engage the opposite rail flange, the connecting arm. being provided with a bend or curve therein to af-' ford flexibility, substantially as described.

10. In a rail anchor, the combination of a gripping member provided with. a jaw adapted to engage a rail flange, the jaw being provided with inner and outer flanges and a connectin body portion, the inner flange being projected downwardly and inwardly to afford a foot having a curved bearing surface, and a rear reinforcing web interposed between the rear flange and the front flange with its depending foot, a

transverse connecting arm adapted to extend below. the rail base, and a locking nut threaded on the end of the connecting arm and provided with an upstanding portion adapted to be struck down to overlie and engage the opposite rail flange, the connecting aim being provided with a bend or curve therein to afford flexibility, substantially as described.

tion, substantially as described.

12. In a rail anchor, the combination of a gripping member adapted to engage a rail flange, a connecting arm adapted to underlie the rail base and threaded at its outer end, a nut carried on the threaded end of the arm and provided with a collar having notches formed therein and adapted to be turned up to abut against the opposite rail flange and have the collar struck down to overlie and grip said flange and lock the nut in position, substantially as described.

' 13. In a rail anchor, the combination of a gripping mei'nber adapted to engage a rail flange and provided with a depending foot adapted to abut against a tie, a connecting arm adapted to underlie the rail base and threaded at its outer end, a nut carried by thethreadcd end of the arm and provided I arm being provided with a bend or curve to afford flexibility, substantially .as described.

14:. In a rail anchor, the combination of a gripping member adapted to engage a rail flange, a connecting arm adapted to underlie the rail base and threaded at its outer end, a nut carried on the threaded end of the arm and provided with a collar having notches formed thereonand adapted to be turned up to abut against the opposite rail flange and have the collar struck down to overlie and grip said flange and lock the nut in position, the connecting arm being provided with a bend or curve to afford flexibility, substantially as described.

15; In a rail anchor, the combination of a gripping member having a jaw designed to grip a rail flange, and a foot underlying the jaw and adapted to bear against the face of a tie, a cross-connecting arm adapted to extendbelow the railbase, and having its horizontal dimension less than its vertical dimension, and provided with threads at its outer enclmn its-J' pperand lower edges, 'a nut threaded onto the threaded end of the connecting arm and provided with a collar adapted to be turned up to abut against the edge of the opposite flange and adapted to be struck down to overlie and grip the flange and lock the nut in position, substantially as described.

- 16. In a rail anchor, the combination of a gripping member having a jaw designed to grip a rail flange, and afoot underlying the jaw and adapted to bear against the face of a tie, a cross-connecting arm adapted to extend below the rail base, and having its horizontal dimension less than its vertical dimension, and provided with threads at its outer end on its upper and. lower edges, anut threaded onto the threaded end of the connecting arm and provided with a collar adapted to be turned up to abut against the edge of the opposite flange and adapted to be struck down .to overlie and grip the flange and lock the nut in position, the connecting arm" being bent or curved to afford flexibility, substantially as described.

1,19c,4.ss

17. In a rail anchor, the combination of a jaw member adapted to grip the rail flange, a connecting arm adapted to extend under and in parallelism with the under surface of the rail base and of a length to project beyond the rail base, and a looking member adjustable upon the projected end of the arm and provided with an upstanding member adapted, when the looking member is adjusted, to be struck down to grip the rail, substantially as described.

18. In arail anchor, the combination of a jaw member adapted to; grip the rail flange, a connecting arm adapted to extend under and in parallelism with the under surface of t-he'rail base and of a length to project beyond the rail base, and a nut threaded onto the projected end of the arm and provided at its inner side with a collar adapted to be turned up to contact the opposite flange of the rail and to be thereafter struck down to overlie and grip said rail flange and to lock the nut in position, substantially as described.

19. In a rail anchor, the combination of I a jaw member adapted -to grip the rail flange,.a connecting 'arm adapted to extend under and in parallelism with the under surface of the rail base and of a length to project beyond the rail base, and a locking member adjustable upon the projected end of the arm and provided with an upstanding member adapted, when the locking member is adjusted, to be struck down to grip the rail, the connecting arm being provided with a bend or curve to increase its flexibility, substantially as described.

20. In a rail anchor, the combination of a jaw member adapted to grip the rail flange, a connecting arm adapted to extend under and in parallelism with the under surface of the rail base and of a length to project beyond the rail base, and a nut threaded onto the projected end of the arm and provided at its inner side with a collar adapted to beturned up to contact the up posite flange of the rail and to be thereafter tially as described.

ARTHUR L. STANFORD. lVitnesses:

SAMUEL W. BANNING, WILLIAM E. LAWTON. 

